Blank cutting machine



4 Sheets-Shree?I W. s.- ELLIOT ET AL BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2,1929 oct. 4, 1932.

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Oct. 4, 1932. w. s. ELLIOT ET AL BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2.1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 yMMCMMQW Q Q N Oct. 4, 1932. w. s. ELLIOT ET ALBLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Zge/25015'.-

Oct. 4, 1932. w. s. ELLIOT ET AL BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2.1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 WILLIAM S.

ELLIOT, E NonfrnAMrroN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND EnE'nEnIo A. rAnEnnaSfr, orBETEESDANAEYLAND, AsSIeNonS, Bv EIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

EEG-PHY-L @aC-TIC' BRUSH COMPANY, OF WILMNGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE BLANK CUTTING. MACHINE Application filedhugust 2, 1929.Serial No. 383,068.

T his invention relates to a machine for forming tooth brush handlesfrom sheets or Vslabs of pyroxylin or other similar material.

Heretofore it has been common practice to cut from sheets or slabs ofpyroxylin, rectangular blanks which were subsequently placed in rolls orpressure dies to form finished handles from the blanks. ltwas desirableto` taper the handles and this caused a considerable waste of materialduring the molding operation due to the fact that the mass of materialin the blankbefore molding was considerably greater tlianthe mass ofmaterial in the finished handle7 with a resultant large iin or fiashformedlfrom the surplus material.

Fife have discovered that a great saving of material can be effected bycutting from the slab or sheet blanks more nearly conforming in size andshape to the nished handle. VIt is therefore an object of our inventionto provide a machine capable of forming handle blanks of Substantiallythe general size and shape of a finished tooth brush handle.

Another object is to provide a machine capa- Y ble of cutting from aslab of material oppositely tapered blanks having the foregoingcharacteristics thereby minimizing the Waste of material.

Other objects of our invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of themachine of our invention.l Y f Fig. 2 is a front elevation of themachine of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a sectional top plan view taken substantially on the line 3-8of Fig. 1.

Fig. Af'is a detail perspectiveviewof the feed mechanism, Y

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view, partly in slection, showing the dierentpositions ofthe :nife carrying block.

ig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the machine showingthe mecha-V nism for feeding the cut blanks to the dies.`

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view, partly in section, of one of the dies andblank feeding mechamsm.

y Fig. 8'is a section taken substantially along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the slab or sheet of material showing inbroken lines the manner in which the blanks are cut. f

Fig. l0 is a plan view of one of the handle blanks; and l Fig. ll is aperspective view of one of th vfinished handle blanks. n

` Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application. to thedetails of construction and arra-ngement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying draw- 6.5

ings, since the invention isvcapable of other embodiments vand of beingpractised or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to be understoodythat the phraseology or terminology employed hereinv is for the purposeY of description andnot of limitation, and it is not intended to limitthe invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended asconsidered in view of the prior art and the requirements thereof.

Complete operation The operation of our machine which is to be describedin detail below is substantially aS follows; ,With the slab feedingmechap by step movement to the reciprocating and swinging knife` carriedby the ram. The knife descends and cuts a tapered blank from the slabwhile on the ascent ofthe knife mechanismv functions to transfer the cutblank to a pair of dinking dies at one Side of the machine. The knife`is now swung to change its position and on the next down stroke of theram the knife cuts an oppositely taperedV blank Yfrom the slab andsimultaneously dinks out the previously cut blank at Vthe right'side ofthe dies. 0n the second up stroke ofthe ram7 the second cut blank istransferred to a pair of dinking dies at the left side of themachine,the knife shifted and on the next downward movement of the ram a thirdblank is cut from the sheet and the second out blank is dinked out bythe operation is repeated untiloppositely tapered blanks have been cutfrom the entire sheet of Y material, whereupon the sheet feed isreleased and a newsheet or slab of materialinserted.

"Genera-Z assembly y l The machine of our invention comprises aplurality ofunits including a' frame A hav-V means preferably comprisinga drivenV pulley lao D. The ram carries a blanking tool-block and toolshown as a whole at E and the upper members of a pair of forming toolsF,*the lower members of these forming tools being supported'by theplatforms K. The form-v ing tools arearranged in reverse symmetry.

The slab feeding unit is shown as a whole at G and is' Constructed toimpart a step by step feeding, movement to the slab H. The power meansincludes, in addition to the pulley D, independent units operated fromvthe pulley for feeding the slab to theblanking tool and for feeding the`cut blankstoV the4 forming tools, as well as for oscillating theblanking tool. This mechanismvw'ill be described in detail below. Y v

f `Drivemeclwtm'sm v InfFigs` 1 and 2 it willbe observed that the frameA supportsat its upper end a rotary shaft 15 upon one end 'of which ismounted the power pulley QD. This pulleyl receives its power vfrom 'anysuitable source by means of the beltD. Upon the opposite end of theshaft 15 there is mounted a smaller sleeve 16 which carries a sprocket17. Supported by -the frame atl a point above the bed B is a secondshaft 18 having upon'one end a sprocket 20. A sprocketv chain 21connects the sprockets 17 and 20. i The shaft 15 carries aneccentrically mounted sleeve 22 to which apitman 23 is connected, thepitman ('13v 1n a single vertical plane during its reciprosupporting theram C. y To maintain theram cation, the machineframe is providedv withguides 24 which are detachably mounted upon theframe. In Fig. 1 it willbe seen that th shaft 18 carries an eccentric 25.7v

`B Zgzvn7cag tool amsupportng block l, Y

I' The lower endgoftherain hassecuredto it as by -means'of a screw26a-knifecarrying block 27uwhichl is `mounted tolswivel 'with respect tothe ram., The knife block carries a knife 28 which is detachablyconnected to it by means of screws 29. In r Fign the knife lface of Vtheknifefblockf 27 inl any suitable manner. As shown, the rodis detachablyconnected with the block by means of a-brackg i etg33 and a pin 34." Aresilient connection is provided between the yoke and they outer end ofthe rod 32 and comprises three spaced blocks 35 between which blocks4springs 36 .are interposed the yoke carrying one of the spacedcblockswhich slidesy on the rod 32 bef tween t-he othertwo blocks. As the shaft18 Y 'is rotated the eccentric` causes the yoke to i-ng avbed B, acentral longitudinalplatform Y P,-side platforms K, aram'C, and powerArock about its pivot 30 and osoillate the knife. Y i Slab feedingmechanism i The i feed mechanism previously referred -to generally isshown as a. whole at G and comprises a centralv platform P extendingfrom registering witha similar groove or trackway 37 formed intheplatform to provide a` continuation thereof. Positioned withinV thetrackway 39 and adapted to slide therein and into the trackway 37'is arack 40l provided witha plurality yof transverse grooves 41.

The rack is normally'maintained in its outward position as shown in'lig.4 lby means of a counter-weight 42 connected by a cable 43 to thefouterend of the rack, the cable preferably passing about a pulley 44. Mountednpon the platform P adjacent the outer end thereof area pair of bearings45 and 46 each of which bearingssupports a transverse shaft 47and 48.The shaft47 carries at its outer end a crank 49 connected to pulley 16by means of a? rod 50, crank 50a, shaft 51, bell crank 51a andadjustable rods 52. The 'upper rod 52 vis eccentrically mounted-at 53upon Vthe sleeve 16. The opposite end ofthe shaft 47 carries a crank 54which supports at its lower end a pawl 55 engagingthe transversenotches41 inthe rack. lt will be understood thatV asthe shaft 15rotates,y a step by'step 110 the medium :of the-pawl and theintermovementfisimparted tov the rack through mediaryconnectio'ns. "TheVpa'wl is extended forwardly at l56,for a purpose to be described.

` The shaft 48 carries on its inner end a crank 57 connected with aholding pawl'58 and the outer end 'of the shaftr48 carries a crank 59which is limited 1n its Vforward movement by a'short rod 60 mounted manextension 46a of the'bearing 46. coil spring 6l surrounds the rod,for apurpose-to be described below.

los'

Referring particularly toA 14, it will be seen that'5the bearing 46'hasa forward'extension 62'whichV receives-a short shaft 63 having a handle64 and a semi-cylindrical extension 63a, whichV projects beneath lthefor-y ward extensions 56 and 58a of the pawls and is so` positionedas-to allow the pawls norinallyytoengage the transverse notches 41. When,however,it is desirable to release the pawls from engagement with therack to per-- mit its movement in one direction or the other, the handle64 is moved in a clockwise direction to lift the pawls out of engagementwith the rack.

The forward end of the rack 40 is provided is operated the slab is fedforward to the knife 28 step by step, the mechanism previously describedserving to reciprocate the knife and oscillate it so as to cut from theslab H the oppositely tapered blanks H (Fig. 9). When the knife entersthe slab, it will be understood that there must be some movement of themass or the remainder of the slab.

The holding pawl 58 being resiliently supf The forming tools Y Atopposite sides of the platform P. and upon the bed'of the machine areauxiliary platforms K which support the lower. members of the formingtools or, as shown, dinking dies F. n Each platform comprises preferablya base plate or block 65 and a top plate 66 supported by means vofvertical studs or pins 67. The top plate 66 is provided with an invertedU-shaped guide or hood 68. The lower dinking dies F comprise oppositelydisposed members 69 and 70 and an end member 71. The top plate 66 isprovided with an adjustable guide block or button 72 and the rear wallof the guide or channel 68 is provided with a. similar guide block orbutton 78. Positioned at a point opposite the guide block 72 isanotherguide block 74 having a transverse hole or slot therein toreceive the pin 75 carried by a U-shaped springV 76 mounted upon the topplate 66 by means of a screw 77. jects through the slot or Vhole in the.guide block 74. The front wall of the guide or channel 68 is providedwith a transverse hole or slot to receive a pin 78'carried upon theU-shaped spring 79 secured at 8O to the top plate 66. The pins 7 5 and78 and their resilient supporting members are identical. Thus it will beseen that a pair of adjustable guides and gripping devices Vfor theblanks is positioned between the die members 69 and 7 0 and the diemember 71 and at the 1 other side of the members 69 and 7 0 there is Asseen in Fig. 7, the pin 7 5 proprovided a similar' pairof adjustableguides and blankl supports 73 and 78, the latter projecting through thewalls. and into the'interior of the gui-de or channel .68. The purposeof these combined vguides and grippingew 'devices will be fullydescribed below. The platforms K are `identical and are so. mounted thattheir die members 69, 70 and 71 cooperate with the'die members 81 and 82carried by the ram C, these latter die members e151 being known as thepresser members. It will be observed that the dinking dies are arrangedin reverse symmetry to form 'similar blanks as they are fed to right orleft by the transverse feeding means. 56g

Out blank feedz'ngmechamsm Y After a slab H has been advanced to thecutter 28, and a blank cut therefrom, it is desirable to transferthiscut blank to the dinking dies forming a part of either of the platformsK. Since the finished handles must all be alike and for the reason thatthe knife `28 oscillatesv and cuts' yopposi-tely to tapered blanks H oneach stroke of the ram, it is necessary to supply the successivealternate blanks to opposite 'left and right hand .dinking dies..l/Vehave provided, therefore,

mechanism for soi feeding the cut blanks. 35 Referring to Fig. 6 it willbe noted that the l rear extension of the platform P has pivotallymountedthereupon at 83 an arm or lever 84 having a forked forward end 85supporting a block v86. The block is pivotally connected by meansof apin 87 to a relatively long slide 88 having a substantially centrallylocated forward extension or projection 89. A guide channel 90 ismounted upon the bed Band serves as a guide for the slide 88. The n armor lever 84 has upon its upper surface a roller 84a mounted by means ofa pin 846.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it'will be seen that the lower shaft 18supportsV a cam wheel or drum 91 having a cam slot 92 therein. It willbe seen that the roller 84a is positioned withinV the vcam slot 92 sothat as the cam wheel rotates the roller must necessarily follow thepath of the cam slot, thereby causing the arm or lever 84 to swing fromside to side in a horizontal plane about its pivot 83. The slot is ofsucha character asA to impart motion to the lever 84 in harmony with therest of the power operating'mechanism and to cause the reciprocation ofthe slide 88 immediately subsequent to the cutting of 1a blank, theprojection 89 engaging the end of a cut blank to move the same intoposition between the pairs of guides and'holding devices 72 and 74 and73 and 78 above the dinking dies 69, 70. and 7l, on each successivestroke of the machine.' The slot is also larranged so as to positionthe'cut `blank as described and to retract the projection 89vv suf-'-ficiently to be out of the path of: movement :L30

of the knife onits next@ down stroke.' It will be understood, k.that asthe ram descends, lcar- --presser members 8land 82 ofone ofthe setsof.dinking'dies serves. ,to force the previously lpositionedandsupported-blank "I-I.v (Fig. 8)

y `through'the lower dinking die members169,

70 and 7:1 andallow the same to fall into the hopper LA atfthe baseAofthe machine, ythe :gg finished handle Vblanks lH2 yescape from thej'hopper and fallonto an endless belt or conveyor Mfto becarried to anydesired point.

During the dieing operation, pvarious -chips accumulate in thedinking-dies. In order to ,',avoid this accumulation, compressed air,

In Fig'. `l() there isfshowna blank after it has been =cut fromthejslabby the cutter' 28v and prior tothe dinking operation. In Fig. 1lthere' is shown afinished handle blank H2, the portionsishownby thebroken lines at l0() and 200, inl Fig.v 10,1havingbeen removed;

rial is fed longitudinally -toiaswinging'and reciprocating knifewhiehcutsoppositely tapered blanksfrom the ,slab y.and feeds 'themalternatelyto dinkingf dies at the Lright* and left'handsides ofthedmachine, the cutting of vone blank andthe dinking out ofapreviouslycutblank being performed simultaneously.vv After the f slab ,has been-ctnnpletelyv cut into blanks,",the pawls holding the blank feedingmechanism arel released land the mechanism' retracted by the;counter-weight so as'to be in position to receive another slab or sheet*ofv material. It may vbecome deslrable at Vtimes to'cutrectang'iilarrather thanV tapered Vblanks-.froml the slab of material.In this case'the'mechanism for swingingror oscillating ,the knifecanbereadily detached so that the knife will travelonlyin a vertical plane.:i We claim; p

1. In a-blank cutting machine,l in'combination, a longitudinal `feedfor4 feeding a sheet of material,4 threepairs of cooperating toolsarrangedtransversely-"of the vline of 4feed ofsaid feedingmechanism Vandoperating at right anglestheretd and transverse feedingfmech'anismyoperating to feed the blank formed bythe middle pairof said toolsalternately to the side pairs of. said tools.

-2f.V In a` blank cutting machine, in combination, y a 'longitudinal,feed for ,feeding a sheet of material, threepairs of cooperatingcutting tools arranged transversely of the n lineiof'feed of saidfeeding mechanism and operating at'l right angles' thereto, and trans-"verse feeding: mechanism operating to 'feedl ftheblankformed bythemiddlepair ofsaid y said tools. rying the. knife to cut a vtaperedblank, the J cuttingto'ols alternately to the side pairs of 3. InAa-blank cuttingmachine, in com bination, a longitudinal feed Vforfeeding-a sheet of material,three pairs of cooperating tools arrangedtransversely of the line of- Vfeed of 4said Vfeeding mechanism and oper-Vatingat right angles thereto, transverse feeding mechanism operating tolfeed the blank formed by the middle pair of said tools alternately' tothe side pairs of said tools, and means for causing simultaneousmovement of all of said tools. 1 v v '4, In a blank' cutting machine,fincombination, al central' blanking. tool, a vlongitudi- `nal feed, forfeedingV a sheet of material to said tool, pairs of formingtoolsarranged at oppositesides of saidfblanking tool and in alinementtherewith, all of saidtools operating at right angles to the linev offeed ofsaid feeding mechanism, and mechanism operating to feedblanks'cut'by said blanking Y Y tool alternately to said forming tools.Y 5. VIn a blank cutting machine, in combination, a central blankingtool, a longitudinal v .1 y Y Y. 5 --feed for feeding a' sheet ofmaterial to said .i Thus it will be seenthat theslab oflmate- 'Y nation,a longitudinal feed forfeeding a sheet of material, three'pairs ofcooperating dies arranged transversely of the line of feed of thefeeding mechanism, means forj swinging the middle member tov formtapered blanks, and transverse feeding mechanism operating to feed theblanks alternately to the, side pairs ofdiesg y 7. Ina blank-cutting.machine, in combination, a longitudinal feed fory vfeeding a sheet ofvmaterial, ,aj knife arranged in the pathv offm'ovement of saidsheet,pairs of dmkmg dies arranged lat opposite sides of the knife andtransverselyV of the line of feed. i,

means lfor swinging said knife to cuttaperedL V'blanks' from :saidsheet, transverse feeding mechanism operating to feed the blank cut vbysaid knife alternately to the pairs of dinking dies, and means foroperating the knife and the dinking dies simultaneously.

` 8. In a blankcutting machine,.in combination,a longitudinal feed forfeedinga sheet of material, a ram,.three diemembe'rs on'the ram arrangedtransversely to the line of feed ofsaidfeeding mechanism, means forswingingthe middle member transverse to Vthe mechanism, and means forfeeding the blank formed by the middle lmember alternately to.

the side members.

9. In a blank cutting machine, in combination, a longitudinal feed forfeeding a sheet of material, three pairs of dies arranged transverselyof the line of feed of the feeding mechanism, means for swinging themiddle member, the two outer members being arranged in reverse symmetry,and

transverse feeding means to lfeed the blank formed by the middle memberalternately to the two side members.

10. In a blank cutting machine, in combination, a longitudinal feed forfeeding a i sheet of material, a ram, three die members on the ramarranged transversely to the line of feed of said feeding mechanism,means for swinging the middle member, the two outer members beingarranged in reverse symmetry, and transverse feeding means to feed theblank formed by the middle member alternately to the two side members.

ll. In a blank cutting machine, in combination, a Central blanking tool,pairs of forming tools arranged at opposite sides of said blanking tooland in alinement therewith, said pairs of forming tools being arrangedin reverse symmetry, and transverse feeding means for the cut blanksincluding a swinging lever and operating means for said lever, the leverbeing adapted to engage blanks cut by the blanking tool and feed themalternately to said forming tools, said operating means being timed towithdraw the lever from the path of movement of the upper forming tooljust prior to the forming operation.

12. In a blank cutting machine, in combination, a central blanking tool,pairs of forming tools arranged at opposite sides of said blanking tooland in alinement there- Vwith, and transverse feeding means for the cutblanks including a swinging lever and operating means for said lever,the lever being adapted to engage blanks cut by the blanking tool andfeed them alternately to said forming tools, said operating means beingtimed to withdraw the lever from the path of movement of the upperforming tool just prior to the forming operation.

In testimony whereof we affix our signal' tures.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOT. FREDERIC A. PARKI-IURST.

